Gomez, though, insists that the playing and coaching staff at Anfield have already moved on from a high-profile departure, with there little point in clinging to the past.

The England international defender told The Mirror: “It’s a massive club with so many top players and I think we know how good he is, everyone is happy for Phil, but now it’s about us bouncing back and moving on as a team.

“No-one is dwelling on it, we’ve got such a good team here, we know we can keep pushing and keep progressing.”

Instead of reflecting on the value of former team-mates, Gomez would prefer to talk up the benefits of those still at Anfield.

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That includes record signing Virgil van Dijk, with the £75 million Netherlands international considered to be an ideal mentor for those alongside him in Liverpool’s defensive unit.

Gomez added on a man who occupies a centre-half berth he intends to fill at some stage: “It’s great for me personally, because he’s one of the best in the world right now, long term if I want to play there then it’s a great opportunity for me to learn and see what he does.

“He’s got great attributes and that’s something I can look at and see what he does from day to day. That’s one of the great things from being at a club like this, you are around top players like this. He’s a massive presence not just on the pitch, but off it as well.”